Process and mechanism for the manufacture of roving or yarn



Dec. 10, 1929. w G, REYNOLDS 1,738,796

PROCESS AND MECHANISM FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ROVING 0R YARN Filed Aprii22, 1927 ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 19, 19 29 WILLIAM G. REYNOLDS, OFSELMA, NORTH CARGLIN'A, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF T0 EDGAR A. TERRELL, OECHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA PROCESS AND MECHANISM FOR TEE MANUFACTURE OFBOVING OR YARN Application filed April 22,

This invention has reference to the production of yarn of cotton orother fiber, and particularly to that part of the general process whichis known as roving, and by means of which the sliveris brought to thestate of yarn.

One object of the present invention is to accomplish the drawing of thestrand or sliver to the required degreeof fineness, whatever it may be,by a continuous process, capable of being carried on to completion by asingle organization of mechanical elements which actupon the strandsuccessively and simultaneously,bringing it eventually to the requireddegree of fineness without interrupting the travel thereof.

According to the preferred manner of practicing the said invention, thestrand of fiber, after having been subjected to the first draftingoperation, either with or without a preliminary compression of thestrand-(in which first drafting operation ordinary drawing rollers maybe employed) is forthwith, and without interruption of its travel,folded upon itself and condensed; which operations may be accomplishedby the yielding pressure of elementspreferably power-driven rollswhosecontacting surfaces move in the same direction and at the same rate oftravel as the strand. The latter, after having been thus folded andcondensed, undergoes another drawing; and the abovedescribed-altel-nations ofv folding and condensing and drawing arerepeated asoften as is necessary for bringing the strand to therequisite de gree of fineness, all without a break in the continuity ofthe process. I

Said process is characterized by the following'distinguishing features,amongst others 1. The condensing and drafting operations areaccomplished by means of elements whose contacting surfaces travel-withthe strand. v

'2. The strand'is acted upon, in the course of its uninterrupted travel,by a series of condensing and drafting elements, each successivedrafting element acting upon an already condensed strand. v

3. Between each successive drafting operation the strand is folded uponitself, the line of fold being lengthwise of the strand. This 1927.Serial No. 185,834,

operation is to be clearly distinguished from the doubling ofi onestrand upon another, which has been heretofore proposed.

4. The condensing (or folding and confaces at the lips thereof, and theother has a peripheral rib or tongue fitting said groove; the rollsbeing geared to rotate in such wise that-the'contacting surfaces betweenwhich the strand is condensed travel at the same speed. These, tonguedand grooved rolls serve the, severalpurposesof folding, condensing,holding, and carrying the fiber.

The folding of the strand upon itself asit issues from the drawing rollsresults in a better product than is obtained by the uniting of twostrands together (as is now commonly practiced) and other advantages aresecured thereby, particularly in that this folding of the strand uponitself'makes possible the successful drawing of the fiber to any desireddegree of fineness in a single continuous process. a

In some casesit is desirable to use two or even more drawing operationsto one condensing opera-tion. v

All the operations described abovecan be carried out uninterruptedly inone simple mechanical organization. Moreover, it is possible by means ofthis invention to produce astrand of yarn or roving with a theo-.

retically correct and practical draft, or in other words, a balanceddraft; which it is not always practical to attain by means of theprocesses now in use.

It is possible also to unite a strand of rayon or similar material withthe cotton rovingby running the two together throughthe final drawingrolls. Inasmuch as cotton is strong condensing and drawing;

. pairs of condensing elements;

Fig.2 is a similar View from above; Fig. 3 1s a front (or rear)elevation of part of a palr of condenslng rolls, showlng two Fig. 4 isan enlarged detail illustrating how the strand is doubled upon itselfand compressed in passing through the condensing rolls ;'and

' Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic detail in side elevation, showing how astrand of rayon or like material may be united with the cotton strandvIn carrying out the said continuous process of alternate drawing andcondensing of the sliver 5, the latter is led out of its container 6 andcarried through a series of rolls,

. of which eight pairs are shown in Figs. land 2. In practice,the rollshafts would be long enough to carry each a considerable number ofrolls. In Fig. 2, a suflicient length of the shafts is shown to indicatethe location of two rolls on each shaft. j j r In the arrangementillustrated inthe drawings, the first pair of rolls 7, 8 are holdingrolls, and the second pair9, 10 are draw- Y ing rolls, the speed ofwhich, relative to that of rolls 7 8, will be such as to draw'out thesliver to the desired extent at this first step of the process, theextent of the elongation of the strand being a matter of judgment, anddependentupon various considerations.

Next to these is shown a pair of, rolls 11,

. 12, by means of which the strand is folded upon itself, and is alsocondensed or compacted, and thereby made ready for a further drawingoperation by the next pair of rolls 13 14.

The preferred construction of these con densing elements is illlustratedin Fig. 3, and the operation thereof in Fig. 4.

As shown, roller 12 is formed witha pe:

riphera'l groove 25, the edges 29 thero f being slightly bevelled for ashort distance from the surface of the roll, which gives tothe groove aflaring mouth, whereby the guiding of the strand into the aperturethrough which it-is to pass is facilitated. p

This construction of the groove with bevelled edges is of muchimportance, not only because it facilitates thefoldingoperation, butalso because,'if the walls of the groove were vertical all the Wayto thetop thereof, the rib on the companion roll would act as a shear, andwould destroy the strand.

in perspective,

The width .of groove25 and the pressure of the upper roll 11, which isof just the proper thickness to fit closely in groove 25, determine--the extent to which the strand is compressed at this point; and themanner'in which the compression or condensation takes place is shown inFig. 4. The edges of the web 5, as it enters the groove 25 are turned upby the action of the bevelled surfaces at the mouth thereof, and thefolded strand then comes under the pressure of roll 11, which is sojournalled as to rest freely with-its full weight upon the strandoffiber. In other words, the roll 11 is automatically adjustablevertically, so that the size of the aperture is'automaticallyadjustable, its height being determined by the volume of stock passingthrough it.

The aperture between rolls 11 and 12 an-- swe rs in function to theorifice of a cone tube or trumpet, and the curved peripheries of therespective rolls answer to the flaring walls of the tube or trumpet. Theall important difference, however, is that the opposing walls in thisinstance move withthestrand and at approximately the same rate oftravel.

It is further to be observed that the several pairs of condensing rolls('11, 12, 15, 16, etc.) perform four distinct functions. First,

they fold the strand upon itself; second, they condense the strandpreparatory to another drawing; third, they carry the strand forward;and fourth, they actas holdingrolls' against the contiguous pair ofdrawing rolls.

I have stated that, in the arrangement shown in the drawings,'the firstpair of rolls (7 and 8) are holding rolls, though, of course, theyperform also the functions of condensing the strand and of carrying itforward'a'nd it is obvious that a pair of rolls such as 11,

its

with the folding, condensing, and holding action of rolls 11, 12.

The driving gear of the roll'shaftsis not;

shown in the drawings, as the sanieisof or dinary construction and formsno part of the present invention. It is enough to say that the under oneof each pair of drawing rolls is postively driven by any suitable means,and the upper member of the pair receives its motion by contact with thelower. As shown, however, iii Fig. 3, it has been found desirable, inthe case of the condensing rolls, to gear the upper roll shaft to 1 thelower, as by the spur gears26, 27, the teeth of which have sufficientlength to permit the necessary vertical play of the rolls 11, etc.

The manner in which the upper roll shafts are weighted, and the amountof weight to be applied, are matters well understood by those skilled inthe art and concerning which no specifications are needed.

As shown in Fig. 5, a spool or bobbin 30 containing a thread of rayon orsimilar undrawn fiber, may be suitably supported at a convenientdistance above the level of the travelling strand of cotton, and in suchpo sition that the thread 31 may be run through the last pair of drawingrolls 21, 22, and thus be united to the cotton strand, forming acomposite yarn.

As indicated in Fig. 2 the width of the I drawings.

From the last pair of drawing rolls, 21, 22, the strand is wounddirectly upon a bobbin or other receptacle, by the usual means,receiving in the operation of winding the neces sary twist to make it afinished strand of roving oryarn.

By the above described process and mech anism, as much draft isaccomplished in one continuous operation as in three or more distinctand separate operations by the processes now in general use.

It is specially to be observed that a pair of condensing rolls,constructed as described above, performs the function of a cone tube incompacting or compressing the travelling strand of fiber, but withouttearing it apart or putting a harmful strain thereon.

Vfhat is claimed is 1. A continuous process for the production of acomposite strand of drawn fibrous material and undrawn material, whichprocs ess consists in drawing out a strand or sliver of cotton or otherfibers, then condensing the same by folding it upon itself and passingit between moving compression elements under yielding pressure, thendrawing the strand further and repeating these operations continuouslyuntil the desired state of fineness is attained, and at the finaldrawing operation running and uniting a strand of undrawn material suchas rayon with the strand of fiber.

2. Mechanism for preparing fibrous material for spinning, comprising, incombination with a plurality of groups of drawing rolls by which afibrous ribbon is attenuated through successive stages, a series of setsof devices alternating with the said groups, namely at a plurality ofthe intervals between the groups, to act in connection with theprogressively attenuated ribbon at successive stages, each setconsisting of driven compression elements, yieldingly pressed together,moving in the same direction as the fibrous ribbon at thepredetermined'rate of feed, and cooperating in their movement to foldthe spread-0ut ribbon transversely upon itself, subject it in itstransversely infolded state to yielding compression between them, feedthe infolded partially-drawn ribbon to the succeeding pair of rolls sothat extension of the sliver shall take place between the said set andthe said succeeding pair of rolls.

3. Mechanism for preparing fibrous material for spinning, comprising, incombination with a plurality of groups of drawing rolls by which afibrous ribbon is attenuated through successive stages, a series o'fgrooved rolls alternating with the said groups, namely at a plurality ofthe intervals between the groups, to act in connection with theprogressively: attenuated ribbon .at successive stages, and yieldingpresser rolls co-acting with said grooved rolls, each presser rollhaving a narrow workingportion oce cupying the groove o fthe companionroll, and each grooved roll and its companion presser roll cooperatingin their movement to fold the spread-out ribbon transversely uponitself, subject it in its transversely infolded state to yieldingcompression, feed the in folded partially=drawn ribbon tothesucceedingpair of rolls, so that extension of the sliver shall takeplace between the saidset and. the

said succeeding pair of rolls..

4; Mechanism for preparing fibrous material for spinning, comprising, incombination with a plurality of groups of drawing'rolls by which aribbon .of fiber is attenuated through successive-stages, aseries ofsets of condensing devices alternated with the said groups, namely at aplurality of the intervals between the groups, to act in connection withthe progressively attenuated ribbon at successive stages, the condensingdevicesintermediate two successive groups of the drawing rollsconsisting of driven compression elements, yieldingly pressed together,and in. their movement cooperating'to fold the attenuated and flattenedribbon transversely inward upon itself, subject it in its transverselyinfolded state to yielding compression between them, advance thecondensedpartiallydrawn ribbon at the predetermined rate to' thesucceeding pair of rolls so that extension of the sliver shall takeplace between the said set and the said succeeding pair of rolls.

5. The combination with a train of groups of drawing rolls, of a seriesof sets of sliver condensing and carrying devices located at successiveintervals in the said train, forming a sequence effecting, at each of aplurality of stages of the progressiveattenuation of the fibrous ribbon,recondensationthereof by a, set of the said devices, each set consistingof driven compression elements, pressed together, moving in the samedirection as the travel of the ribbon and atsubstantially the same speedas the latter, and

yieldingly the c-oacting elements cooperating to shift the margins ofthe partially attenuated ribbon transversely inward, as well astosubject the thus narrowed ribbon to yielding compres sion between them,advancethe thus-conditioned ribbon to the action of the succeeding.group of rolls so that extension of the sliver shall take place betweenthe said set and the said succeeding pair of rolls.

6. Mechanism according to claim 3, characterized by the grooves andpresser rolls of the successive groups thereof being progressivelynarrower.

' 7. Mechanism according to claim 3, characterized by the edges of theside-walls of a groove being slightly beveled, forming a flaring-mouthwhereby entrance of the said ribbon is facilitated, inward folding ofthe mar gins of the ribbon is promoted, and shearing action is avoided.v

8. Mechanism for preparing fibrous material for spinning, comprising, incombination with a plurality of groups of drawing rolls by which afibrous ribbon is attenuated through successive stages, a series ofgrooved rolls alternating with the'said groups, namely at a plurality oftheinterval's between the groups, to act inconnection with theprogressliver shall take place between the said set. and the saidsucceeding pair ofr'olls, with the sively attenuated ribbon atsuccessive stages,

and yielding presser rolls coac'ting with said groovedrolls, eachpresser roll having a hay I row working portion occupying the groove of7 of the sliver shall take place between the said intermediately locatedrolls and the said succeeding'pair of rolls.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

WILLIAM G. REYNOLDS."

the companion grooved roll, andeach set coni prising a grooved roll andits companion presser roll cooperating their movement 1 p to fold thespread out ..ribbon transversely upon itself, subject it initstransverselyinfolded state to yielding compression, feed the infoldedpartially-drawn ribbon to the suc ceeding pair of rolls, and hold itagainst the draft by the latter so that extension of the W grooves andpresser rolls of the successive V ing a flaring mouth whereby entranceoffthe.

sets progressively narrower, and with the side-walls of a groove"slightly beveled, formsaid ribbon is facilitated, inward folding of themargins of the ribbon is promoted, and

and the twoirolls cooperating to subject the. narrowed ribbon toyielding compression,

feed the narrowed partially-drawn ribbon to the succeeding pair ofrolls, and hold it against draft by the latter, so that extension

